To the victors go the spoils. The Eagles have the luxury of the bye this weekend, which is great for teams in a multitude of ways.
But as we sit here with no Eagles football this weekend, the specter of Nick Foles and the offense's struggles become magnified with the wait. This isn't baseball where you can get right back on the horse the next night and wash away that 8-1 loss.
There will be nearly four weeks — 27 days, to be exact — between the Week 15 game against the Giants when Foles and the offense played well and the NFC divisional round. That's a long stretch between good outings. So while the bye is beneficial in many ways, from a psychological standpoint, the layoff will feel like an eternity for the fanbase.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Foles' stats vs. the Raiders and Cowboys are the kind that have Doug Pederson waking up in a cold sweat.
So we play the waiting game. The Eagles will host either the Falcons (if they beat the Rams in Los Angeles) or the winner of the Panthers-Saints game in New Orleans.
Which is the best matchup for the Birds?
Panthers (11-5, 5-3 on road)
Let's start with the only team they played head-to-head this season, the Panthers. The Eagles won at Carolina, 28-23, in Week 6. But that victory comes with a 6-foot-5, 240-pound asterisk, Carson Wentz.
NFL
You may have heard, but he is not playing. So the Eagles' offensive performance has to be qualified. However, defensively, they did force three interceptions, two inside their own 20-yard line. Fifteen of the Eagles' points that evening were a direct result of two of those picks.
The Panthers' running backs rushed 13 times for one yard.
Cam Newton's stat line: 28 for 52, 239 yards, TD, three interceptions, 48.5 rating, two sacks.
The Eagles' defense came to play. Carolina did not throw the ball particularly well this season so if the Birds' defense can stop the run again and make the Panthers predictable, this could be a recipe for a win.
Keep in mind, Luke Kuechly left that game with a concussion. He is healthy now, and Carolina has the third-most sacks in the NFL.
I would rate the Panthers as my second choice for the Eagles to play.
Saints (11-5, 4-4 on road)
New Orleans is my least desirable opponent. The Saints have two backs in Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara who combined for 1,852 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground and 139 receptions for 1,242 yards and five more touchdowns through the air. Drew Brees had another 4,000-plus-yard season.
So their offense is diversified and strong. A good running game travels well.
The Saints are also improved defensively from years past — 10th in points allowed, seventh in sacks — but they're middle of the road in yards allowed.
New Orleans beat the Panthers both times they played in the regular season and it's very difficult to pull off the hat trick in one year. But, this game is in New Orleans. I think the Saints advance in the wild-card matchup, which means barring a Falcons win in L.A., the Saints will play the Eagles.
My biggest concern for the Eagles is New Orleans' offense will score enough on the Eagles' defense that it will be difficult for Foles and the offense to match them.
Falcons (10-6, 5-3 on road)
A Falcons' upset in Los Angeles would be ideal for the Eagles. Despite getting in as the final wild-card team, Atlanta has been inconsistent all season. Their offense, so potent last year, never seemed to click. They rank 15th in points per game, and Matt Ryan has not looked like the same player we saw in 2016. Perhaps it's been the change in offensive coordinators from Kyle Shanahan to Steve Sarkisian?
Devonta Freeman has fought injuries all season. Yes, Julio Jones is frightening, and the Falcons' defense ranks eighth in points allowed, but this team looks like one that's struggled to recover from a brutal Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. Take this for what it's worth, but the Eagles beat the Falcons in the regular season last year. They do have some blueprint.
So I'm going with Atlanta of the three as the team I'd prefer the Eagles get on Jan. 13.